Methanol fueled vehicles might be the future of Indian automobile industry: Gadkari

Indian Minister for transport suggests India could copy Sweden in using methanol as fuel for vehicles

Union Minister for Road Transport, Highways and Shipping Nitin Gadkari said that Indian should take inspiration from Sweden and use nature-friendly methanol fueled vehicles in order to reduce pollution. “We must use pollution-free methanol as fuel that is available at Rs 22 a liter. In Sweden, they are changing from diesel to methanol,” Mr. Nitin Gadkari said at the Sagar Disclosure 2017 in Goa.

Methanol is a clean, economical source of energy

The Minister informed that the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) led government is already taking steps to make this a feasible reality. It is already seeking help of engine makers like Cummins and Wartsila, to name a few, to introduce bio-fuel powered engines for Indian shipping vessels.

Gadkari talked about the government’s plan to promote the use of water and public transport in the country in order to reduce the pollution chaos in the country. He said that adding a new road lane could cost the country Rs. 80,000 crore and moreover, contribute an extra 22% to the pollution caused by automobiles. “We want to discourage road traffic and promote public and water transport,” he said. He brought forth the many initiatives that are in progress in the Ganga and Brahmaputra river’s and also in states like Tamil Nadu and Andra Pradesh. “We are creating 40 river ports with the three-meter draft and will have a river traffic control on the lines of air traffic control,” spoke the Minister. The Minister told that the investment it is making in developing existing ports would also bring employment opportunities in thousands and also boost industrial investments. He estimated $50-60 billion were earmarked for infrastructure development on ports and improving the connectivity of ports in India. This would fetch around $110 billion worth industrial investment.